Northern Colorado gives to High Park Fire relief efforts

As the High Park Fire enters its second weekend, the Northern Colorado community is kicking into high gear to raise funds to help our neighbors in need.

UC Health — aka Poudre Valley Health System — has made a $25,000 donation to the Northern Colorado Chapter of the Red Cross to assist with High Park Fire response, as well as $5,000 donations to both the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department and the Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, which are completely dependent on donations.

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department is offering the use of Edora Pool Ice Center, 1801 Riverside, and Northside Aztlan Community Center, 112 E. Willow, to High Park Fire evacuees and displaced residents until July 2. Both recreation facilities will provide access to showers, drop-in services (weight room/pool) and locker rooms. When entering the facilities guests are asked to check in with the front desk. Contact EPIC at 970-221-6683 or Northside Aztlan Center at 970-221-6655 with questions.

Evacuees can also use the fitness facilities and showers at all locations of Miramont Lifestyle Fitness in Fort Collins and Loveland during normal business hours. Be prepared to provide proof of address, 970-225-2233.

Saturday, June 16, is just jam-packed with fundraisers to support organizations supporting fire relief.

“9 Cares Colorado Shares” events at King Soopers locations in Fort Collins and Loveland will benefit the Red Cross, Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation and the Larimer County Food Bank.

The NoCo Rebuilding Network, which helped rebuild homes after the Crystal Fire, will benefit from two Saturday concerts at Equinox Brewing, 133 Remington St., Fort Collins. Michael Kirkpatrick performs an intimate solo set at 3 p.m., then his full band The Holler! will perform 6-8 p.m. Proceeds from CD sales will go to the NoCo Rebuilding Network, www.nocorebuilding.org.

If you can’t make it to an event, nonprofit NoCo Rebuilding can also accept donations through the local crowdfunding site CommunityFunded.org.

More music for the cause on Saturday night: Liz Barnez and The Escape Goats at the Sunset Event Center, 242 Linden St., Fort Collins, 7 p.m. Ticket donations go to the Red Cross and the volunteer fire crews, 970-484-4604.

There will also be a High Park Relief Concert with SHEL, Gypsy Fit, Post Paradise, Common Anamoly and Josh Vogeler at Hodi’s Half Note, 167 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, 8 p.m. Saturday. Sponsored by KRFC 88.9FM, New Belgium and Odell breweries, Go West t-shirts and more. Proceeds from tickets, raffles and silent auction will benefit the Pine Acres Community, where five homes have been confirmed destroyed, www.highparkreliefPAC.com.

The music community up and down the Front Range is pitching in. Through Sunday, $2 from every ticket sold to the June 23 Westword Music Showcase will go to the Red Cross for High Park fire relief efforts.

Even sports teams are helping. Through June 17, the Colorado Eagles hockey team is donating proceeds from its Father’s Day sale of team merchandise to the Red Cross. Plus free shipping on purchases over $50 and 20 percent off of select items — Dad will be so proud of you, www.coloradoeaglesgear.com.

The opportunities to give don’t end with the weekend. Throughout the month of June, the Institute of Business and Medical Careers, Inc., 3842 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, will donate all revenue generated by the Therapeutic Massage Student Clinic to the Red Cross relief fund, 970-223-2669 or http://ibmc.edu/massage_fort_collins.asp.

Cool Berry Frozen Yogurt locations in Fort Collins, Loveland and Windsor are accepting ongoing donations and pet food for the Larimer Humane Society, which has taken in and arranged for care for more than 300 animals displaced by the High Park Fire, larimerhumane.org.

Egg & I Restaurant locations in Fort Collins and Loveland are accepting donations for the Red Cross, as is the Bar Double S in LaPorte.

On Monday, June 18, The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant will donate 10 percent of sales from community nights at its six restaurants in Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley and Steamboat Springs to the Red Cross, 970-224-5428.

The love doesn’t stop with Northern Colorado, either. Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado will hold a food drive from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, in Colorado Springs. Food collected will be given to the Food Bank of Larimer County on Wednesday to help feed more than 3,000 people displaced by the fire, 719-528-1247.

Another benefit concert, this one at Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, is set for Wednesday, June 20. Live music begins at 7 p.m. with Rawah and at 8:30 with Grant Farm. Suggested donation of $5 with proceeds benefitting the Red Cross and other fire relief efforts. There will also be a silent auction and victims’ resources, so evacuees, firefighters and the community are encouraged to attend. Sponsored by KRFC 88.9FM. For more information, www.krfcfm.org, www.avogadros.com or 970-493-5555. To donate to the silent auction contact Danielle@krfcfm.org.

Ticket proceeds from Bas Bleu’s performance of “Buffalo Gal” on Thursday, June 28, will be donated to the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, www.basbleu.org, 970-498-8949.

For a list of organizations supporting victims of the High Park fire and other ways to get involved, visit HelpColoradoNow.org or call United Way at 2-1-1.

And for a reality check to make sure your donations get to the people really in need, go to the Better Business Bureau of Northern Colorado and Wyoming website.